I Saw a Woman Playing Alone

[iacas 8,143]

The other day while rating a golf course, I saw a woman, about 55 and probably about an 18-22 handicap, playing golf alone.

She had a push cart. She dropped an extra ball once that I saw and hit it. She played 18 holes.

And I couldn't shake how odd the whole thing seemed to me.

Seriously, though, when's the last time you saw someone meeting that description playing alone?

Whether it's simply because women tend to be more social creatures or what, I don't know, but while I've seen plenty of GUYS playing by themselves, I don't think I've ever seen an older woman who isn't a competitive amateur (in scratch type events, I mean) playing by herself.

There's no judgment here of any kind - I was happy for her, truly, because I do think some women miss out on some of the good things that come with playing golf by yourself.

I just found it odd, and even now, days later, cannot shake that feeling. Good for her, though.

[acetoolguy 16]

Sounds like a golfer trying to get better, good on her.

I travel a lot for work. I go out to eat often, the women who do the same job tend to order in. Unfortunately a single woman in many situations, that men are nonchalant with, feel uncomfortable.

[Kenny Lee 30]

Pretty rare indeed.

Lots of avid golfers (female) at our club in that age range, but never saw any of them playing alone.

[tmac20 33]

I see women playing alone all the time at my course. Never seen a single women at a public course though.

[tefunk 17]

The only times I really see a loner female golfer out on the course is if she's a college or high school player. I think most golfers enjoy the social aspect, and would typically find someone to play with preferable... But a smaller percentage are OK going out by themselves. And being male golfers outnumber females by quite a bit, it does make sense it would be much more of a rarity. It's nice to see anyone out there being able to enjoy what they like like to do

[SavvySwede 354]

One time I was paired up with a little old lady at an executive course down in Florida. She was pretty good for her age and would have been playing alone had I not walked on.

[shooter 9]

You sir, spotted a unicorn.

[Dave2512 278]

I see this weekly.

[Sante TwoGloves 6]

Haven't seen it all year until yesterday. She was hitting several tee shots.

[DrvFrShow 273]

The other day while rating a golf course, I saw a woman, about 55 and probably about an 18-22 handicap, playing golf alone.

She had a push cart. She dropped an extra ball once that I saw and hit it. She played 18 holes.

And I couldn't shake how odd the whole thing seemed to me.

Seriously, though, when's the last time you saw someone meeting that description playing alone?

Whether it's simply because women tend to be more social creatures or what, I don't know, but while I've seen plenty of GUYS playing by themselves, I don't think I've ever seen an older woman who isn't a competitive amateur (in scratch type events, I mean) playing by herself.

There's no judgment here of any kind - I was happy for her, truly, because I do think some women miss out on some of the good things that come with playing golf by yourself.

I just found it odd, and even now, days later, cannot shake that feeling. Good for her, though.

I resemble this a lot of the time. Sometimes our friends don't have time to play and we want to get out and enjoy the sunshine. Sometimes we enjoy the solitude. I do not mind playing alone. I also do not mind playing in a group.

[Dave2512 278]

Probably because of the small towns I frequent I run into singles of every stripe, they are always there. Usually late afternoon and walking. Couple weeks ago I ran into a single female golfer named Betty. She was playing reds, struggling and then some. It was obvious she was really trying to stay ahead of me. On the 5th tee she had no more room to avoid me so I drove up. It was then I saw she was older, much older than I thought. I was very happy to see her so I was overly enthusiastic with my greeting. After some small talk she asked if I would like to see her medal. I said of course and she pulled from her bag a gold medal from the 2015 CO senior Olympics. I swear I choked up a bit, story was she was the only one in her age group (85). I Offered to play with her but she declined. I shot one over par that day and I saved the ball and wrote her name on it. Corny I know but it made me happy.

[Cupcakus 4]

Happens to me all the time... Especially at the executive course where mostly everyone is alone practicing. Last time I was at the executive I ran into a middle aged woman playing alone a couple holes in and we finished together, played the best round ever, I recommend it to everyone. I didn't want her to show me up.

[Fourputt 1,041]

The other day while rating a golf course, I saw a woman, about 55 and probably about an 18-22 handicap, playing golf alone.

She had a push cart. She dropped an extra ball once that I saw and hit it. She played 18 holes.

And I couldn't shake how odd the whole thing seemed to me.

Seriously, though, when's the last time you saw someone meeting that description playing alone?

Whether it's simply because women tend to be more social creatures or what, I don't know, but while I've seen plenty of GUYS playing by themselves, I don't think I've ever seen an older woman who isn't a competitive amateur (in scratch type events, I mean) playing by herself.

There's no judgment here of any kind - I was happy for her, truly, because I do think some women miss out on some of the good things that come with playing golf by yourself.

I just found it odd, and even now, days later, cannot shake that feeling. Good for her, though.

When I was working as a starter at my home (public) course there were 3 different women who played a couple of times a week, and they often played alone, or at least showed up at my starter window as singles.  One was fairly good, about a 10-15 handicap, and the other two were, bogey golfers at best.  They never seemed to play at the same times, so I was never able to match them up with each other.

There was one other woman in her early 20's who worked part time in the pro shop and played alone often, but she was a scratch golfer.  She qualified for the medal round at the US Women's Amateur a few years ago, but didn't make the match play.  I played with her a couple of times, both of us from the middle tees, and although I stayed within a couple of strokes of her for the first 9 holes, she waxed me on the back 9.

[isukgolf 62]

I have never seen a single female, but lots of twosomes. However, I say good for her!

[nevets88 1,703]

I've probably seen this a dozen times I guess, not playing solitary alone, but coming to the course alone. Have been paired w/this demographic as well. I guess it might have raised my eyebrows, I'm not sure, having lived in huge metropolises all my life, see singles doing things on their own all the time.

Come to think of it, on many hikes, I've run into middle aged women hiking on their own too. I guess that's the same thing. Last time I was hiking around Mt Rainier, I ran into a 60ish woman and my friend who lives in the area, didn't think much of it. I don't think I did either. The most prevalent thing I remembered about her was she was a softie (worked for Microsoft).

[vangator 115]

I've only seen this a couple of times. One woman was a speed player and no one wanted to play with her. They had a name for her. The other time, I was on number one green putting as a single. In the fairway was a cute looking single. I waited and asked if she wanted to team up. She said sure. I was married at the time though. There's an 80's song, "It's sad to belong" to someone else when the right on comes along".

[legitimatebeef 3]

I've seen it a few times in my decade of playing. It is too bad there aren't more females in recreational golf. It is a game for everyone. Too bad it's dominated by males.

[Ernest Jones 1,014]

I see it often enough. More often pairs or threesomes, but I see solo women in that age bracket often enough that I don't think twice about it.